Best Before
Friday, December 5th, 2008
I wonder sometimes if there is a "best before" date for establishing a good relationship. Is there an age by which, if you haven't settled with someone, it's actually too late? Can years of battle scars build up so that the trust, communication and selflessness needed to form a successful and meaningful partnership becomes, effectively, impossible.
Hopeless romantic that I can be, I always thought the answer to that question was no. Now I am really not so sure.
40 years old, and I have both been around the block a few times and through the mill. And to further mix my metaphores, I suspect I am now past my best before. I might not be off yet, but I am definately getting sour.
I remember once that I was so open and welcoming. Its actually amazing looking back at that and seeing not only what I was like, but that I am really no longer like that.
I find now that I am careful and wary. It takes a long time to consider letting someone in. I can do it (or at least the last time I tried) but that I was so wary was my downfall. If I had grabbed the brass ring when it presented, I suspect things would be different.
My advice to new lovers? Dive in with both feet and dont delay, regretting opportunites lost is worse than not trying. You may not always be able to love like this, don't waste it.
